In the process, the Owls also exposed how different things are for Vanderbilt in the post-James Franklin era.

P.J. Walker threw two touchdown passes and ran for a third score as Temple forced seven turnovers to upset Vanderbilt 37-7 in a lightning-delayed game that ended Friday at 1:14 a.m. Central time.

"They learned that if you prepare and put your heart and soul on the line and go out and play hard, good things will happen," Temple coach Matt Rhule said. "I'm really happy for them."

In earning their first win over a Southeastern Conference team since beating Florida in 1938, the Owls received touchdowns from a pair of Mid-Penn Conference products in an 88-second span just before halftime.

View full sizeTemple's Jalen Fitzpatrick stiff-arms Vanderbilt's Oren Burks on his way to a second-quarter touchdown.The Associated Press

The teams were tied at 7 when Jalen Fitzpatrick, the former Harrisburg High quarterback now lining up at wideout for Temple, took a short pass from Walker and tiptoed the left sideline for an 18-yard touchdown with 2:07 left in the first half.

On the ensuing series, Vanderbilt was seeking a game-tying score when Avery Ellis sacked Stephen Rivers and forced a fumble that sophomore nose tackle Averee Robinson (Susquehanna Twp.) returned 55 yards for a Temple touchdown.

"Our main thing coming into the game was to get turnovers," said Temple cornerback Tavon Young, who had two interceptions. "We knew they were an SEC team, they were smart, so we knew we'd have to make plays to win the game."

Fitzpatrick and Robinson are two of six former Mid-Penn athletes on the Temple roster. Penn State transfer Zayd Issah (Central Dauphin) was listed as the No. 2 strong-side linebacker on Temple's pregame two-deep, but the sophomore did not see action.